To ask my colleague to not wear so much perfume

[DyslexicScientist]

Its such a difficult thing to say something about, but it gives me a headache and affects my allergies. (-And it also smells like cat piss - wish I knew how to do strike through!-)

Can I really ask someone to do this? Or should I ask via email? It could be pretty embarrassing for both of us.

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

Yes. Tell her now before it gets out of hand. Most offices are scent-free anyway, aren't they?

[EponasWildDaughter]

Most offices are scent-free anyway

Are they? Every day's a school day here. (never worked in an office).

I'd tell her face to face. No need for it to be personal or nasty, just say you have an allergy and am sorry to ask/be a pain but bla bla bla.

Strike through is -- at the beginning and end of the sentence up close with no space between it and the words OP.

[wasonthelist]

Most offices are scent-free anyway, aren't they? Is this a thing now? I spent years being gassed by colleagues awful perfumes and cheap body sprays. Please tell me it's been stopped (work from home these days)

[ExtraBlessings]

I have this allergy too. It's super awkward but I just grit my teeth and ask nicely.

Unfortunately my colleague continues to wear really strong perfume and I don't feel like I can ask a second time.

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

I'm in Canada so maybe the scent-free thing hasn't crossed the pond yet.

[ExtraBlessings]

Are some offices really scent free? Bliss

[DyslexicScientist]

Scent free? I've never heard of that before! I wish they were. Along with airports and gym changing rooms . I once went to a fancy gym and it had a no spray policy, it was great.

-is it really this easy-

[DyslexicScientist]

Extra, I think the same would happen here.

I would have to ask by email, would be embarasing to say it in person.

Any suggestions on how to word it? My English is awful -as I'm always reminded of by certain people on mn-

[DyslexicScientist]

Any suggestions on how to word it? My English is awful as I'm always reminded of by certain people on mn

Please work

[JapaneseSlipper]

Can you mention it to HR. No names need mentioning - just request that a general email go out to all staff?

[Creiddylad]

The only office I know that is scent free is Asthma UK.

I like to wear strong perfume, if anyone asked me to wear a less strong one I would not have a problem.

Just ask nicely.

[Cloppysow]

A former colleague had allergies to certain chemicals. She went to our boss about perfume and we were all told to stop wearing it. I didn't mind, most people didn't.

[beelights]

I wear an unusual perfume and often wonder if it bothers others (it's not strong, but distinctive). If it did I would be happy to stop wearing if they asked.

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

OP, you need double - to do strike out. your text (but no spaces between the -- and the words)

[EnlightenedOwl]

I sit near three people who all insist on spraying awful strong perfume in the office not caring it makes me sneeze and my eyes water.

[FluffyNinja]

If you stress that certain chemicals in a wide range of the products, particularly perfumes, often cause you severe headaches rather than you don't like their choice of smell, you're far more likely to be successful.

[wasonthelist]

Not pleased you are all suffering, but people thought I was a loony for raising it. I am sure some people don't realise - for me it was so overpowering, it was a bit like sitting next to someone who was shouting in my ear the whole time.

[MackerelOfFact]

Most offices are scent-free anyway

Eh? Are they? I've worked in offices from big to small, several of which were in the last 12 months. None were 'scent free' and it and no expectations with regards to personal fragrance were ever expressed!

I've worked with people who suffer from migraines, asthma or allergies though and have toned down perfume to suit. But when you're travelling to work on a projectile pipe of human sweat, otherwise know as the tube, people are generally grateful for a bit of eau de toilette.

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

MackerelOfFact I mentioned above that I am in Canada. Every office I have worked in here has been scent free.

[FishOn]

I'm in Canada too - I see signs up in medical facilities asking you not to wear scent/cologne but nothing at work...

[AnnieOnAMapleLeaf]

It must just be the offices I have worked in then.

[FlowersAndShit]

At least it's not a BO or fishy smell?

[wasonthelist]

When people have BO it's just BO plus offensive body spray, so it's worse, like "air freshener" in the bogs where you get the smell of shit and piss augmented with some nose-bleaching foul stench.

[Snoopadoop]

Most offices are scent-free anyway... Eh? Is that a thing? I wear perfume and if it was overpowering to any of my colleagues I'd rather they told me than suffered.

[Klaptrap]

Not sure how best to approach it (I think the HR route would probably be what I'd do!) but you have my sympathy. I can't stand strong perfume (or rather in a lot of cases it's just too much perfume rather than the scent itself), it's horrible. I can't go into the perfume section in department stores, it makes me feel very sick.

We have some people where I work who must literally douse themselves with half a bottle of their chosen perfume/aftershave in the morning - it is grim.

IMO perfume should be something other people only smell on you when they get close to you, it should not waft in miasmas in a 100ft radius around you.

I am lucky that I don't work in the same office space as any of the offenders here, I don't think I'd cope. Their smell lingers for ages in corridors and rooms after they have vacated an area though - it's just too much!!